Fluid collecting apparatus and process

Claim 2

Flow control apparatus comprising: a fluid collection station; means for delivering fluid to said station; means for moving the fluid delivered to said station while at said station, and means for responding to the momentum of the moving collected fluid to determine the volume of fluid delivered.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the moving means comprises a reciprocative drive for alternating collected fluid at a constant rate.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the responding means is biased to a normal condition and arranged for movement to a yielded condition and in response to momentum of selected magnitude.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the responding means is a magnetic field providing a repelling magnetic force for maintaining said normal condition and yieldable to said yielded condition in response to momentum of said selected magnitude.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said responding means is a spring.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized by: a clamp for controlling flow through said delivery means and an electrical circuit for moving said clamp in response to the condition of said responding means.

Claim 8

Blood collecting apparatus comprising: a flexible container with an anticoagulant and having a blood inlet; means for supporting said container as it is filling with blood through said inlet; means for moving said container while supported; means for selectively blocking flow through said inlet; second means controlling said flow blocking means arranged for responding to the momentum generated by the mass in the container while filling and having a first condition in which flow through said inlet is blocked when momentum beyond a selected level is reached and a second condition in which flow is maintained through said inlet until said momentum reaches said level.

Claim 9

Blood collecting apparatus comprising: a flexible container with an anticoagulant and having a blood inlet; means for supporting said container as it is filling with blood through said inlet; means for moving said container while supported; means for selectively blocking flow through said inlet; second means controlling said flow blocking means arranged for responding to the momentum generated by the mass in the container while filling and having a first condition in which flow through said inlet is blocked when momentum beyond a selected level is reached and a second condition in which flow is maintained through said inlet until said momentum reaches said level.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the supporting means comprises a shiftable holder for agitating the mass in said container.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 further characterized in that said supporting means includes a slide on which said holder is reciprocatively mounted, said moving means arranged for rocking said slide.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said responding means includes a member for developing a yieldable force and normally biased to said second condition.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said supporting means is a holder for said container arranged for reciprocation by said moving means, said apparatus further characterized by: a striker connected to said holder, and a switch connected to said flow blocking means and arranged for actuation by said striker as said yieldable member moves from its second to its first condition.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the member is a first magnet and characterized by a second magnet arranged for repelling said first magnet with a force which yields upon generation of momentum beyond said selected level.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said member is a spring fashioned to yield upon generation of momentum beyond said level and further characterized by a spring engaging member arranged for reciprocation by said moving means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said supporting means is a holder for said container arranged for reciprocation by said moving means and characterized in that one of said magnets is mounted in a fixed position relative the one magnet.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the flow blocking means comprises: a solenoid, a clamp operatively associated with said solenoid and arranged for enabling and cutting off flow in said inlet, circuitry for said solenoid, and a switch in said circuit for completing and opening a circuit to said solenoid according to the level of the momentum of blood in said container while moving.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 7 charActerized by circuitry for said blocking means, and a signalling member in said circuit and having an active condition when said responding means is in said first condition.

Claim 19

In a process for collecting blood from a donor in a container which is being moved to agitate the contents, the steps of: impinging the momentum of the moving mass upon a force adapted to yield to a momentum of selected magnitude and actuating flow interrupting means when said force yields to stop blood flow to said container.

Claim 20

In a process for collecting blood from a donor in a container which is being moved to agitate the contents, the steps of: impinging the momentum of the moving mass upon a force adapted to yield to a momentum of selected magnitude and actuating flow interrupting means when said force yields to stop blood flow to said container.

Claim 21

A combination according to claim 17 characterized in that the moving mass is alternated to alternatively impinge and release its momentum on the yieldable force, and the flow stopped condition is maintained during alternation of momentum after such condition is attained.